Enzyme Substrates

Dye labelled polysaccharides are very useful chromogenic substrates for the measurement of endo-glycosyl hydrolase activity. Soluble chromogenic substrates are useful for the quantitative assay of enzyme solutions using the standard curve available for each product while insoluble chromogenic substrates are mostly employed qualitatively for the detection of specific enzyme activities in gels or plate screening experiments. Enzyme tablet tests contain the insoluble chromogenic substrates but in tablet form they can be used for quantitative assays with added convenience for the user. Colourimetric oligosaccharides are soluble, chemically defined, functionalised oligosaccharides that can be used for the specific assay of exo- or endo-glycosyl hydrolases and are suitable for use with automated analyzer systems.